Getting Fallout 3 to run

[Enigma]

My hardware specs are more than enough to run the game but it initially crashed nevertheless. Patching the game solved it.

[General Zod]

My hardware specs are more than enough to run the game but it initially crashed nevertheless. Patching the game solved it.

Why would you try to play it without patching it anyway? Checking for updates is the first thing I do whenever I install a game.

[The_Saint]

Not sure if he's fixed his problem yet but... I run Fallout 3 on a Win7 laptop and had issues getting it to start, chuck the cd in, get the launcher, select new game, flicker of a black screen then crash to desktop.

There's a number of fixes suggested for the Securom and multicore issues on the official forums which I tried but I found another issue.

Apparently Fallout 3 doesn't like running fullscreen on a monitor connected to my laptop.. something to do with how F3 and laptops treat graphics adapters but it can only run on the main screen as long as that's on the primary adapter.

Not sure if this is how you're trying to run it but I either have to pull my monitor out and run it fullscreen on the laptop or have it run windowed on my main monitor (plugged into the laptop).

[General Zod]

Not sure if he's fixed his problem yet but... I run Fallout 3 on a Win7 laptop and had issues getting it to start, chuck the cd in, get the launcher, select new game, flicker of a black screen then crash to desktop.

There's a number of fixes suggested for the Securom and multicore issues on the official forums which I tried but I found another issue.

Apparently Fallout 3 doesn't like running fullscreen on a monitor connected to my laptop.. something to do with how F3 and laptops treat graphics adapters but it can only run on the main screen as long as that's on the primary adapter.

Not sure if this is how you're trying to run it but I either have to pull my monitor out and run it fullscreen on the laptop or have it run windowed on my main monitor (plugged into the laptop).

Is the external monitor bigger than your laptop's screen? Because chances are your laptop simply doesn't have the power to upscale the graphics to that resolution. Which isn't what the OP is describing.

[Enigma]

My hardware specs are more than enough to run the game but it initially crashed nevertheless. Patching the game solved it.

Why would you try to play it without patching it anyway? Checking for updates is the first thing I do whenever I install a game.

I know but that is why I said the question was silly but the OP never stated if he had patched the game.

[General Zod]

My hardware specs are more than enough to run the game but it initially crashed nevertheless. Patching the game solved it.

Why would you try to play it without patching it anyway? Checking for updates is the first thing I do whenever I install a game.

I know but that is why I said the question was silly but the OP never stated if he had patched the game.

Doesn't the game update automatically anyway thanks to needing GFWL?

[Enigma]

I know but that is why I said the question was silly but the OP never stated if he had patched the game.

Doesn't the game update automatically anyway thanks to needing GFWL?

Yes if you choose to go that route. I personally despise GFWL. Unlike GTA4, I can still save my games without needing it or if the internet connection is down.

[Feil]

If the opening cutscene is locking you out, it is trivially easy to find other peoples' savegames with their 'zomg look how gorgeous the vaguely human lump of flesh I squelched out of the character creator is' uploads before you even leave the Vault. Here is one that looks like it might actually be useful, in stead of someone showing off. http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8992

[Gramzamber]

I object, you can make quite decent looking characters with enough effort (of course the entirely rubbish character sliders don't help any).
Mind you the sweaty monstrosities some people put up are rather jarring.

[The_Saint]

Is the external monitor bigger than your laptop's screen? Because chances are your laptop simply doesn't have the power to upscale the graphics to that resolution. Which isn't what the OP is describing.

Yes the laptop runs at 1280x800 whilst the monitor is 1920x1080 and no it's not an issue of not being able to run it... I run it windowed at 1920x1080 because for some reason FO3 can have a hissy fit over running full screen on whichever is set to primary vs the adapter it's running off. I don't know exactly why this is but when I contacted support I was essentially told this was "possible", had been reported, and wasn't a priority.

I mention it as it crashes the same as quite a few people have had it do so (black screen to desktop after clicking new/continue game in the FO3 launcher) and yet alternative suggested "fixes" didn't do anything for me.